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Michelle Thomson resigned from the SNP following allegations about her property business (Image: PA)

The Tories will look to capitalise on Thomson's departure and their candidate Sandy Batho will be buoyed by the Conservative surge seen across the country at the local elections last month.

But it is the Lib Dems who will be feeling most optimistic about snatching the seats from the Nats after winning the Scottish Parliament constituency Edinburgh Western at the Holyrood vote in 2016, an area which has similar boundaries to the Edinburgh West seat.